Articles: April 9th
Newsday: Rangers can get playoff spot with win vs. Flyers
“Don’t ask me that,” coach John Tortorella barked after a 28-minute practice in Westchester. “We’re not in. You’re asking the wrong guy the wrong question, because we’re not in. We have to play a game. Don’t talk to me about playoffs. No sense asking me about playoffs.”
NY Post: RANGERS KNOW WIN MEANS PLAYOFFS
“[Tuesday] night’s game means nothing if we don’t come out and compete and try to do the same things against Philly,” coach John Tortorella said.
Lundqvist said Tortorella reminded the team of that message yesterday.
“He said something about if it’s going to mean something to us, we have to take care of business [tonight].”
Journal News: Rangers still have work to do
A lot can still happen. No. 10 Buffalo can still get in if the Rangers and Florida lose twice and the Sabres win all their remaining games. Or, if the Rangers don’t win either of their games, Florida can get in. Or the Rangers can go 0-2 and get in with a Florida loss at Atlanta tonight or against Washington Saturday. And then there are all the zany possibilities surrounding overtime losses, where you get one point for losing in OT or in the skills competition the NHL calls a shootout.
The worst part for the Rangers, hypothetically, is that if they lose tonight and Florida wins its games tonight and Saturday, they go into Philly Sunday in the ninth position, in a win-and-in, lose-and-out situation.
The Record: Rangers can finish business
“I think athletes are better players and respond better when they feel good about themselves,” Tortorella said. “But they better not exhale too hard here because we have a team that’s fighting for home ice.”
The Flyers clinched a playoff spot with a 2-1 win over the Panthers on Tuesday, but still are battling the Hurricanes for fourth place with both teams at 97 points. The Flyers also have an outside shot of winning the Atlantic Division, trailing the Devils by five points but having a game in hand.
NY Daily News: John Tortorella battles Rangers’ playoff assurance
“We’re not in a position where we need somebody else’s help for us to find our way in,” center Brandon Dubinsky said. “It’s not about the playoffs at this point. It’s about continuing to grow and continuing to get better as a team and building that confidence. … I think we’re confident we’re going to find a way in.”
